Trigger Blog

Get to Know Our Authors: Laurie Katz

Without further ado, here’s Laurie Katz, upcoming author of Liar Laurie, to tell us more about herself.

Where were you born?

I was born in Red Sox Nation, Boston, Massachusetts!

Are you a full-time author? If not, what do you do?

I am not a full-time author, I am an elementary teacher!

Why did you decide to write a book?

I never thought I would write a book, and this adventure has amazed me. I had some free time last spring and just started writing, after a few weeks I had a book. I had been mulling over some things over the years and needed to get my thoughts down.

That spring, I saw a TV show in which a character has many bad things happen to her. Many bad things. One of these things (the final bad thing) is that she is raped. She then commits suicide. This really bothered me. She had all these things happen and she was already suicidal and then of course she kills herself after being raped. This discounted everything else in the story and that rape automatically leads to suicide is a dangerous narrative. This was definitely on my mind when I started writing.

Really, to start with, I wrote it for myself. At first, it was a little rough and a little short, but I was very proud of myself. I realized it was the sort of thing I wish I could have read when I was 18.

And I am hopeful my book will help to dispel the myths and stigma associated with sexual assault and to help people affected by this.

Who’s your inspiration?

I’m very inspired by Emma Watson – and not just because she plays Hermione! She exemplifies what it means to be a feminist!

What’s your favourite book?

Beyond writing, I truly love to read! My favorite book is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban! I love all of the Harry Potter books. Harry Potter definitely started my love of books.

Who would be your first choice to play you in a hypothetical film/TV adaptation?

If my book was to be adapted to TV/film I would want Kiernan Shipka to play me. I think we look alike and she is a terrific actress.

What’s your favourite quote?

“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities” Albus Dumbledore to Harry Potter.

Laurie Katz has always been a city girl. She thrived during her childhood in Boston, MA, and was all set to explore new places, beginning with her college experience in Chicago. Just three weeks in, however, that college experience took a sinister turn.

What had started as a fun night out ended with Laurie alone in her dorm room, struggling to even think about what had happened … she had been sexually assaulted.

Laurie set out to get justice against her attacker, but it wasn’t that simple. Dismissed by the Resident Assistant at college, failed by the dean of students, and warned that she was facing expulsion from her course, Laurie was running out of options – and then her attacker filed his own case…